News

3rd March 2005

Cross Border Healthcare in Europe - Hearing on Patient Mobility at the European Parliament

Conservative MEP John Bowis is calling the European Commission to develop a coherent policy to allow patients to be treated anywhere in the EU, funded by their home state.

New rights for patients to seek treatment in other European countries have been conferred by the European Court of Justice in a sequence of judgements. "policy should now be set by the politicians not piecemeal by the court,' says Mr. Bowis, health spokesman for the EPP-ED group in the European Parliament.

"Some Member States don't want their citizens to go abroad for treatment. The answer is simple: match the best in Europe and the patients will want the treatment locally", says Mr. Bowis. "But in the meantime patients want the option and they want it properly managed, " he adds.

The first hearig in the European Parliament of his draft report on patient mobility and healthcare developments in the European Union took place on Thursday 3 March. Other related issues rasied by Mr. Bowis at the hearing are:

* the European Health Card

* the ineffective E112 system for planned health treatment while abroad

* patient mobility guidelines for use by patients, professionals and funding agencies

* collection and evaluation of data on current cross border patient movements

* health tourism

* cross border movement of healthcare professionals and potential brain-drain in some Member States

* e-health and the digital divide.